Choosing a Better-Quality Notary Public

Fraud is a common problem in all legal matters that is why many people seek for a Notary Public in witnessing the signing of their documents and legal forms. That is why there is Notary Public that goes beyond their offices for signing and/or witnessing legal documents.

In choosing a better-quality Notary Public you must consider the following questions:

1. Is the notary familiar with the type of documents you need signed?
2. Is the notary covered with adequate Errors & Omissions insurance?
3. How long has the notary been providing public notary services?
4. When does the notary’s commission expire?
5. Is the notary completely aware of the laws and procedures in your state?

Notary should not be offended or annoyed at any of these questions. Because in fact, experienced notaries should even expect them. This is to avoid that your documents being challenged at a later date, and good notaries and a service knows.

Notary Public is also a form of justice of peace. They render document signing services and can be found within the court systems in your area. Another option is a Mobile Notary Public. The nature of this Mobile Notary Public is to travel short distances to witness legal document signing. They may also charge you for a certain fee for their travel. But then, it is even a pleasure in your part not even going out to go in their offices or even find another notary public.

Always keep in mind that in choosing a better-quality notary makes sure that a notary is specialized in the type of service you need. Notaries are used for official documents like deeds of trust, to authenticate legal documents, to administer oaths, act as a witness, sign loan documents, and even for court testimony.

Be sure you look for notaries with vast experience doing whatever you need them to do. A notary agent that specializes in legal documents might be the best at what they do. However, if they haven’t handled many loan documents they could keep a closing from being finalized due to some small detail.

This time I’m sure you have now all the knowledge in choosing a better quality Notaries. But wait how you will easily find them? Just use the internet to find Notary Services. You can have a quick browse and a short fill out to access documents that they will mail to you. This is a high customer service from a Notary Public to insure that Notary Services are fast and can accommodate you when you need them.

This responsibility isn’t taken lightly by those who become notaries. Companies like ours who offer notary services to you don’t take it lightly, either. We at Irina’s Academy of Finance and Notary Services understand that you want your documents notarized by a service that values customer service and confidentiality.

 

Where Can I Find Local Notary Signing Services?

When you need a document to be legally authenticated, you need a notary public official. A notary public is someone who is legally authorized, certified by the local state government, to serve as a third party witness in matters such as real estate, deeds, power of attorney and other legally binding business transactions. Notary public officers in California have met a certification criteria specific to California state law; this includes a notary exam, a six hour course and an expanded FBI and state Department of Justice background check.

Most public offices, banks and mailing centers keep a notary public on staff in case any transactions take place which require legal documents to be notarized. Banks, post offices, courthouses and most city libraries may offer notary signing services to the public or to regular patrons.

Citizens who have occasional need for notary signing services for documents such as lost title requests or divorce paperwork completion typically rely on their personal banks or public offices. In many cases, personal attorneys or at least one attorney on staff in a law firm is certified to act as a notary public, and many residents requiring notary signing services for matters of deeds or estate may rely on their attorneys to notarize documents.

Mobile Notary Services

Mobile notaries provide an alternative to visiting public offices by coming to the person with the document that needs to be notarized. While the added convenience may not be a huge benefit for the occasional document notarization for most people, businesses and individuals in the title, escrow, real estate, lending and legal professions place high value in mobile notary service. Title transactions, real estate closings and mortgage agreements frequently require the services of a notary public, and having to visit a public office each time this is required can add up to an enormous waste of time and resources.

In the area, there are many notary public officials who provide notary signing services to local businesses.

How to Find a Mobile Notary Public

Many mobile notary public officers advertise their services online, either through their own website or through national directory services. Reputable mobile notary directories include 123notary.com, needanotary.net and notaryone.net. Most mobile notaries operate independently, so be sure to check their credentials and ensure they’re located close enough to provide fast service. Nationwide notary services such as superiornotaryservices.com or mobile notary providers such as docsonthefly.com can provide more standardized service.

 

How to Become a Home Business Notary For Less Than $200

One opportunity you should think about is forming a home business notary office, if you want to enter the great world of home based business. This is a field that’s becoming more and more popular with people who want to have their own home based business. This guide will help you decide it becoming a notary is right for you.

There are many benefits to being a home business notary. Chief among them is the ability to choose the way you want to work. You can be mobile and go from client to client, or you can set up your notary service in your home and have your clients come to you. You can work part-time or full time. It’s all up to you!

And there are various ways on how to become a notary and get your notary license. Most states have specific guidelines and licenses that they require before you can open your home business notary. You will have to check with your state notary association for full details on the requirements for a home business notary.

Generally, though, to become a home business notary and receive a notary license, you have to take a brief course that usually only takes one day of your time, and then you take a notary exam. Local community colleges and universities in your area very likely offer the classes necessary to become a notary public. If there aren’t any colleges in your area that offer a notary public class, you can find schools online that do.

Correspondence courses are also available. Make sure, though, that any class you take fulfills your particular state’s notary public requirements for obtaining a notary license. The courses usually cost about $120, but that’s a small investment that will bring you big returns in the future.

It’s also a good idea to check out the opportunities for notary public services in your area. Some places to look are at banks, financial institutions of all types, attorneys, nursing homes, real estate offices, and insurance companies. These are just a few of the many types of businesses that have a need for reliable notary public services.

Most of them would prefer to have a notary public on call rather than have one on staff in order to cut back on employee expenses and employee benefits. This is good news for you, because it means that there are more chances that a company will use your notary public services on an as needed basis, which allows you to have more clients. Many of them will even allow you to rent a desk and phone space in exchange for your notary public services.

Charges for notary public services range anywhere from $25 to $200, depending on the service you provide. If you’re going to your clients, you can charge more because of the expense involved in travel. If the job is particularly involved or time-consuming, this also allows you to charge more. It’s a good idea to go for the high-volume clients like banks that need a lot of notary public services, rather than to focus on big jobs that take a lot of time. The more clients you have, generally, the better off you are.

Before taking any action on becoming notary public certified, though, do your research. Find out what your state requires and where you can get the training you need. You also want to find out what the competition in your area’s doing, and know what you have to do to beat it. Maybe the notary publics in your area have their clients come to them. If that’s true, then you want to be a mobile notary public. And if your area’s saturated with notary services, you may want to consider a different home based business altogether.

It’s also a good idea to plan for how you’re going to get the news out about your new home business notary. There are many ways you can advertise. Newspaper ads, flyers, and business cards are just a few of the many marketing tools available for you to make use of to spread the news about your notary public business. Before you do, just make sure you have the notary license you need to operate in your state. You wouldn’t want to be fined for impersonating a notary public, now would you?

 

Becoming a Notary Public

Notary publics are of very ancient origin. They first became prominent among the Romans, during the 1500s. Their activities have long been abided by the custom of merchants and by the courts of all countries. Notaries were initially selected by the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury. During that time, they were proficient in foreign languages, as well as the principles and practices of law.

A notary is now a public servant appointed by a state official. This position is important as he provides protection for business deals. Depending on the state, the notary has the power to acknowledge signatures, especially on court papers such as affidavits, conduct oaths and affirmations, and issue subpoenas in lawsuits. For these services, he receives a fee set by the state.

To become a notary public in the U.S, the applicant should be at least 18 years of age and a permanent resident of the state in which he wants to be a notary. Notary is a comparatively easy role to secure, in most cases only requiring the applicant to pass a simple test and undergo some form of background check. The rights and privileges of a notary are normally limited to the basic duties of an impartial witness. To be precise, notaries are not licensed to give any form of legal advice, prepare legal documents or otherwise perform law.

Becoming a notary public involves three important steps. Filling out an application form available in the state or from the nonprofit National Notary Association (NNA) is the first step. An important point to remember is that each state has different eligibility standards for its notaries. Second, a fee is paid to the commissioning authority. Finally, the applicant takes an oath of office in front of a notary public. This action may be incorporated into the application or filed with a county clerk.

Other possible steps include taking an educational course, passing a test and obtaining a notary bond. These requirements vary from state to state. Each notary in America has a legal right to know his state’s notary laws, the distinction between notary laws and notary folklore, and the standards of sensible care for every notarial act. If the notary does not do his job correctly, serious legal problems can result.

 

Should You Use an Attorney or Notary on Real Estate Loan Transactions

The process of acquiring a home loan is exciting and the closing is the moment that everyone looks forward to. The closings of yesteryear, however, traditionally took place with an attorney present to provide for a witness to the signature and the witness of the loan documents at large.

While an attorney is the traditional and more commonly used facilitator of the signature, is he/she really necessary and what, in fact, does the attorney do for the closing?

In most cases there is not a structured answer to that question as each closing in different. However, as we view the attorney’s part in the typical signing, we see a reason to look at another alternative for your signings as well, that being the Notary Public or Loan Signing Agent.

For the most part the attorney affords little more than a feeling of security about what we’ve signed. With the charges being significantly more than that of the notary, we feel somehow that we’ve done the best thing by virtue of the fact that a licensed attorney charged us a bundle to accomplish the task.

Did he/she do it any better or more safely than the notary could have?

The answer to that is probably not.

In nearly every state for the past twenty years, notaries have served as signing agents in real estate closings. A notary offering to service these loan closings are able to do so as a lower cost alternative for customers.

Today many notaries are specifically trained in the Real Estate closing process, whether it is as a title agent, a real estate agent, a loan officer or Loan Signing Agent; and they are certified by the states in which they live, or by a licensing agency. Although some states do not require this education, the majority of notaries that choose to work in this field will take the educational classes available through reputable organizations such as the National Notary Association or the American Society of Notaries.

Is a notary signing appropriate for your closing? That depends on the legislation in your state as to whether or not you may use a third party, or Notary Public to witness your closing.

Legislation varies so widely from state to state that the legalities of a notary helping to facilitate your loan closing will also vary in different states. Certain state laws stipulate that closings must be performed only in the presence of a licensed escrow agent while other states, such as Maryland and Illinois, require a notary to be a licensed title agent. Still other State’s legislation unequivocally requires that only an attorney may attend a signing of this nature.

After some research into the statutes of the states that legislate that only an attorney may perform real estate loan closings, we find that Georgia, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Delaware have no restrictions listed under the notary laws. However, in South Carolina the law specifically states that a notary cannot witness the signing of real estate loan documents. Then in Connecticut & South Dakota there is conflict and speculation as to whether it is strictly attorney or not.

One point that needs to be made in view of the legislation in those states that are providing for attorney-only attended signings is that very few attorneys actually attend the signings personally as many of them view a signing or closing to be a small and unimportant detail. They simply don’t believe it worth their time to attend, though they are paid very well. In a lot of cases, the attorney will send a junior member of his/her staff to attend the signing, and to do the closing. This person is not necessarily an attorney; it could be their paralegal, secretary, or even a notary they have hired just for this purpose. Then, once the signed paperwork is presented to their office, the attorney will sign off on it as if they were in attendance at the actual signing.

These attendees the attorney sends may not even have any understanding or training in real estate or loan signings and are most probably far less qualified than the Notary that has specifically trained to become a loan signing agent.

By and large, there seems to be a significant lack of guidance from the varying and diverse state laws and no real continuity from state to state with regards to what is and is not legal to permit the notary to do. An example of this is that in Florida it is legal for a notary to perform marriages, where in Tennessee this would be considered illegal. As with housing, each state has its own laws regarding the closings, yet the actual events do not differ greatly from state to state.

When a notary seeks out legislation that will provide for their attendance or a valid and viable description of their duties, very often it is not found; and what little legislation is found often lies hidden within some other aspect of the law. In those states which do provide for lawyer-only real estate loan closings, it seems that the actual laws are in fact a court’s decision, which of course was attended to by a judge and attorney and could in fact be looked upon as self-serving at best.

In reality, in each state that was examined which permitted the use of notary publics to close real estate loans, the complaints were minimal in comparison. The service was well liked and respected and the cost was nominal compared to that of an attorney.
In light of this and the fact that closings and signings are truly common and often witnessed in many states with minimal difficulties by mobile notaries or notary publics, it certainly appears to be in your best interests to use a notary if your state legislation provides for the use of one in a loan signing.

To discover if your state allows for notary signings, check with your loan officer. He or she will be able to answer the questions as to whether it is available in your state. Please note: This article is not meant to be construed as legal advice. Check with your own state’s laws regarding loan document closing requirements.

 

What Is A Notary Signing Agent?

Someone once asked me, ‘What exactly is a notary signing agent, and what do they do?’

The simple answer is that, notary signing agents are notaries who are specially trained to conduct mortgage loan closings. Notary signing agents make it possible for someone to do the closing of their mortgage loan, whenever and wherever it is most convenient for them. Many of us work 24/7, which means that there is virtually no limit to when and where the closing can take place.

How does all of this happen?

For example, someone in Colorado can go online and borrow from a lender in California. Is it necessary for that borrower to board a plane and fly to California for the signing of their loan documents, some of which also need to be notarized? Or to make a trip to a title company? No. Instead, a notary signing agent will bring the loan documents to the borrower to be signed and notarized.

What usually happens is that I will get a call from a title company to do a closing. They email a confirmation sheet with the borrower’s name, address, and phone number, along with other information about the closing. The loan documents are sent to me, most of the time in an email attachment. Or they will provide a link to where I can download the documents from a secure website. I make a confirmation call to the borrower, print the loan documents, then go to the borrower to have the documents signed and notarized. This can be at their home, their place of work, or wherever it’s most convenient for them — any time of day or night. Afterwards I deliver the documents back to the title company, usually by overnight courier. If it’s a local title company here in Colorado Springs, I will personally deliver them.

The whole idea is to make it more convenient for the borrower to conduct real estate transactions. It’s a convenience for the lender as well. Closings have even been done while borrowers were traveling on vacation in their recreational vehicle.

What are the limitations of notary signing agents?

As I’m going over the documents with the borrower during the closing, if the borrower has a specific question about the terms of their loan, I remind them that they will have to ask their loan officer, and that I work for neither the lender nor the title company.

“Well then, who DO YOU work for?”

Notary signing agents are independent contractors. We work for many different companies. It’s not uncommon that I will close loans for 3 different lenders, from 3 different parts of the country, on the same day. Yet I represent all of them as if I did work for them.

Is the borrower’s sensitive information safe?

Absolutely. Notary signing agents go to great lengths to secure the borrower’s sensitive information.

How much money do notary signing agents make, and what kind of hours do they work?

One of the biggest myths surrounding this profession is that, becoming a notary signing agent is a ‘get-rich-quick’ way of making money. That is far from the truth. Many prospective signing agents come into this profession disillusioned, thinking that they can quit their job and immediately earn a six-figure salary. The job of a notary signing agent is not easy. And it can be very frustrating at times. Notary signing agents work very hard, and it can take a long time to get established to the point where one can make a living at this. And those who are able to make a living usually work long hours. On several occasions I have left the office to do a closing at 8:00 a.m., and didn’t finish the day until close to midnight. Very many of us make ourselves available 24/7, because we have to be available whenever it is convenient for the borrower. Sometimes I’ll get a call to do a closing at 7 a.m. because the borrower wants to sign the papers before they go to work, or because that is the only time they are available.

Reverse Mortgages

This is an area in which notary signing agents can play a significant role. The people who are least able to leave their homes and travel great distances are the elderly. Many of us are trained to do Reverse Mortgage closings and have a lot of experience working with senior citizens. We take a lot of pride in serving these clients.

Speaking of training, what type of training is required to become a Notary Signing Agent?

Some of the types of training include seminars, training manuals, and online courses. Most of the knowledge that we gain is through self-study. The training is a never-ending process.

Is there a professional organization for Notary Signing Agents?

Yes. There are many organizations that signing agents can join. The largest organization is the National Notary Association (NNA).

Are there professional designations?

Yes. The most widely recognized is the designation Certified Notary Signing Agent (CNSA) from the National Notary Association. In order to earn this designation the signing agent must pass a 3-part examination and undergo a background screening.

How does a company go about finding a notary signing agent? Are you listed in the Yellow Pages?

The most effective way to advertise is by becoming a member of the National Notary Association and becoming a member of the Notary Signing Agent section, registering with the major notary signing agent sites, signing up with signing companies, and having a website. The main thing is to never stop marketing.

The following is the Notary Signing Agent Pledge of Ethical Practice. It was prepared by the National Notary Association, and intended to be presented to the borrower at the beginning of each closing so that they understand the role of the notary signing agent:

“I am not an attorney and therefore, by law, I cannot explain or interpret the contents of any documents for you, instruct you on how to complete a document or direct you on the advisability of signing a particular document. By doing so I would be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and could face legal penalties that include the possibility of incarceration. Any important questions about your document should be addressed to the lender, title company or an attorney.

 

Be a Notary Public

A notary public is a person authorized by the government to authenticate the identity of signatories on legal documents. Notaries are most often used in real estate documents such as mortgages and real estate documents. It is also a public officer who serves the public in non-litigious matters usually about estates or real estates, special powers-of-attorney (SPAs), deeds and both global and foreign businesses. Moreover a mobile notary, charges a fee in the name of the state and there can be some other fees in the case you want the notary to travel to you in order to sign the papers.

There are several requirements to become a notary public officer.

Guidelines are set in different states in the US through legislation in order to know the eligibility of the requirements and states laws that are applicable in every county/State. In California, the secretary of State set specific guidelines on how to become a notary officer.

It is because they believe that notaries can potentially make extra side income as the economy turns around.

In order to become a notary officer an applicant/s must be 18 years of age and an official resident of the particular state he/she wants to apply the certificate. Other states requirements includes, background check, specific course mandated by the secretary of state and must pass the certification exam for notary public officer before the commission approval.

Application for notary officer also requires fee for filling and surety bond with the county clerk’s office. The notary public bond is not an insurance policy for the notary officer. It is designed to provide a limited source of fund/s for paying claims against notary public.

As notary officer it is always a wise idea to broaden knowledge and skills about legal and law services covered by notary legislation and on how to serve every notary public clients. Any candidate can attend workshops and trainings for Notary Officer conducted by the National Notary Association or he/she can join online forums about mobile notary, notary service and notary signing to become a well prepared qualified candidate.

After passing all the necessary requirements for notary public, the applicant will receive a positive response on his/her application. He/She will be then approved for receiving the notary commission and will be able to perform his/her oath of affirmation and will take the oath of service in front of a Notary public.

Now that the candidate is a well confirmed Notary Officer, He/She can now perform different task like Mobile Notary, Notary Services and Notary Signing beyond his/her city with in its State. But notary officer must always remember to advertise its services to become a successful Notary Public. He/She can use or make online sites, blogs, forums, and other media resources for his/her service advertisement. Lastly, any notary officer will also prepare in the different situation and circumstances encountered as he/she render its services.

 

Notary Public Online Courses

To receive a notary public license, you must fulfill a number of requirements such as filling out an application, paying a fee to the commissioning authority, taking a notary public course and passing an exam. However, these requirements vary from state to state in the US. A notary public course provides you with the training and tools needed to pass the examination on notary laws and procedures. Local colleges and universities usually offer notary public courses.

Anyone thinking about attending a notary public class but cannot find a local institution that fits into their schedule, might want to consider an online notary public institute. Online notary learning is growing in fame as a tool for a solid education. Individuals can begin and study online any time from the comfort of their houses, offices or any place with Internet access.

Notary public online courses provide the same quality of education offered by a traditional campus. It is important to make sure that the online course fulfills the particular state?s requirements for a notary license. Legitimate online schools allow candidates to talk to their qualified students for references.

Many institutes now offer online preparatory courses in notary public learning. Notary Law Institute, Pennsylvania Association of Notaries, Notaries Equipment Company, Atlantic Bonding Company Inc., and American Society of Notaries are a few among America’s leading experts on notary public training and education. Most of them aim at online notary public classes nationwide.

For the applicant?s convenience, the online classes offer system-automated registration and payment plans. Many institutes provide a protected way of payment through the use of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol. Applicants have the option to pay either by PayPal or an online credit card. Online course materials are written in simple language to guarantee a trouble free and complete learning experience.

It is easier than ever to learn notary public laws and procedures through online courses. It is advisable to make sure you choose an institute that offers the courses you need, and follow through with references.

 

Why Are Notaries Important?

The history of notaries can be traced back to the days of ancient Egypt. At that time, a notary acted as a scribe whose duties included transcribing state papers, supply magistrates with necessary legal forms, and recording public proceedings. As history progressed, notaries became a staple in most legal systems as those who wrote legal documents and public documents. As a result of writing all these documents, the authority of the notary public increased. However, as a new age dawned with a largely literate populace, the need for notary to write legal documents has dramatically decreased. Despite this fact, the authority gained by notaries in the past has continued into the present allowing notaries to validate legal documents. Though the role of a notary is much more extensive in many countries around the world, the US notary continues to hold an important position in the legal system.

Although the notary has enjoyed a long and important history, the real question becomes: why are notaries still useful in the American legal system today. It may appear that a notary is simply another person to pay when signing an important document. However, notaries today serve an important purpose in our society. The notary profession acts as the universal unbiased third party to ensure that legal documents are prepared and signed correctly. This important because, in a world of cheats, scammers, and crooks looking to take advantage of the next sucker who walks by, having an unbiased third party check the identities of each signing party adds an extra layer of protection to a very important transaction. The notary carries the authority of authorizing legal documents and it is this authority that makes the notary special and important. Each state regulates notaries within the state and therefore has control over who has the power to authorize legal documents. This control insures uniformity and honesty in each and every document signing. Notaries offer a way to regulate and double check legal documents to ensure validity and uniformity.

The notary profession may seem useless at first glance, but upon further inspection it is clear that notaries provide a valuable service in the legal system today. While much of their widespread authority has been stripped away, they still maintain the ability and responsibility to authorize legal documents. This includes checking the identity of each signing party to guard against potential fraud. With important documents such as loans and mortgages, an added layer of security puts people at ease. This added control makes the notary profession an important part of the legal system today.

 

How to Become a Notary Public

Notary Publics first became prominent during the 1500’s, at the height of the Roman Empire. They were chosen either by the Pope, or the Archbishop of Canterbury to whom the Pope delegated authority. During those years notaries were well versed in foreign languages, as well as the principles and practices of law.

On the other hand, becoming a notary public in the U.S., thereby serving as witness to the signing of documents and an administrator of oaths, does not require special training or experience. It is a relatively easy position to secure, in most cases only requiring the candidate to pass a short test and undergo a background check. With this in mind, the rights and privileges accorded to a notary public do not extend beyond the basic duties of an impartial witness. More specifically, they are not permitted to give any form of legal counsel, prepare legal documents or otherwise practice law.

For those interested in becoming a licensed notary, there are three basic steps to follow:

First, fill out an application, providing your name, address and other contact info. You will also answer questions regarding age, residency and any previous notary commissions held. (Application procedures vary from state to state. For more information regarding the application process, you can visit the National Notary Association website, http://www.nationalnotary.org.) Second, applicants are next required to pay a fee to the commissioning authority. Finally, applicants must take an oath of office, which may be incorporated into the application or filed with a county clerk.

There are other possible steps that may include taking an educational course, passing a test or obtaining a notary bond. These requirements vary from state to state, therefore applicants are encouraged to consult their local official or contact the National Notary Association for more info.

Many states offer notary public classes to help aspiring notaries gain their commission. Pat Meyer, an instructor at a Northern California Notary instruction course has helped thousands of notaries or future notaries obtain or renew their notary commission. The course offers same day classes and exams. For more information about this service, log onto http://www.notaryclasses.net.

For those residing in the state of New York, log onto http://www.notarytrainer.com, where one can purchase a New York Notary Application Kit, which includes sample notary test questions, as well as the official New York Notary Laws and Procedures handbook